The Israeli army announced today, Tuesday, the deaths of 9 of its soldiers in Gaza, bringing its total losses in the war on the strip to 187 fatalities. Most of these recent casualties were from engineering units working against tunnels of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the southern and central areas of the strip, where Israel has shifted its focus in combat after declaring the dismantling of Hamas's infrastructure in northern Gaza on Saturday.
Earlier today, the Israeli army reported "the death of four more of its soldiers in Gaza," and announced "the injury of three officers and three soldiers with serious wounds" during the fighting in the Gaza Strip, while continuing its airstrikes on various areas in Gaza. The death toll has now reached 23,084 martyrs, with 58,926 injured since the onset of the war.
A few hours ago, the Israeli army revealed "the injury of 19 officers and soldiers" among its forces during the last 24 hours in the ongoing battles in Gaza. It noted that "among the wounded, 228 are in serious condition, 374 in moderate condition, and 440 lightly wounded, with 453 soldiers and officers who were injured since the start of the ground operation still receiving treatment in hospitals," according to local media reports.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli army has acknowledged the deaths of 514 officers and soldiers since the start of the war, including 182 since the onset of the ground war in Gaza.
In related news, the Israeli army announced on Monday evening the commencement of a "new phase" of the war in Gaza, which involves less intense fighting, including "ground troops and fewer airstrikes." This was stated by army spokesperson Daniel Hagari in an interview with the American newspaper "The New York Times."
Hagari stated that the Israeli army has "started a new, less intense phase in combat." He explained that the new phase "will involve ground troops and fewer airstrikes," according to the same source. Hagari's statements came just hours before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's arrival in Israel as part of a Middle Eastern tour aimed at preventing the conflict in Gaza from expanding into a regional war, as reported by the newspaper.
Hagari mentioned that Israel "will continue to reduce the number of forces in Gaza, a process that began earlier this month." He claimed that "the intensity of operations in northern Gaza has already begun to decline," indicating that the Israeli army "will now focus on Hamas strongholds in the southern and central areas of the strip, especially around the cities of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah."
Hagari added that Israel "also aims to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, including tents to shelter the displaced." According to the United Nations, by the end of December 2023, approximately 85% of the strip's population, or about 1.9 million people, have been forced to leave their homes amid intense Israeli ground operations and aerial bombardment.
